Witnessing Weddings: Can Relatives Be Included?

Wedding witnesses are people who observe the wedding ceremony and sign the legal paperwork afterwards. In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have at least two witnesses, and they can be anyone, including relatives, as long as they are over 16 or 18 (depending on the source) and can understand the language of the ceremony. So, yes, relatives can be witnesses at a wedding.

Can parents be witnesses?

The role of a wedding witness is to observe the wedding ceremony and sign the marriage certificate and associated paperwork. Witnesses are required to ensure that the wedding is conducted legally, that neither party is being forced into the marriage, and that the officiant is carrying out their job correctly. While witnesses were historically required for these reasons, they are still a legal requirement in many places today.

In the UK, for example, it is a legal requirement to have at least two witnesses at a wedding. These witnesses must be independent, i.e. not the couple getting married or the person conducting the ceremony. There is no law dictating who can and cannot be a witness, as long as they are an adult and understand what is happening. This means that the parents of either the bride or groom can be witnesses. While this may seem like a conflict of interest, given the role of the witness, it is not seen this way in law.

In addition to the bride's and groom's parents, other family members such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins can also act as witnesses. In fact, it is common for parents to be chosen as witnesses, with one parent from the bride's side and one from the groom's side. This can be a way to make parents feel included in the wedding, particularly if the mother is chosen, as she is often not included in other ways.

While there are no age restrictions on witnesses in England and Wales, some register offices and places of worship will ask for an additional witness if one of the original witnesses is under 18. In Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, witnesses must be over 16. In New York, witnesses must be aged 18 or over.

Can children be witnesses?

While there is no legal age limit for witnesses at a wedding, they must be able to understand what a marriage is and what a legal ceremony entails. They must also be able to speak and understand English. Although there is no strict minimum age, witnesses are usually adults, and civil ceremony officiants would prefer that they are 18 or over. If your witness is under 18, you may be asked to provide an additional witness.

The role of a witness is to observe the wedding ceremony and sign the paperwork afterward. Witnesses are historically required to ensure that the wedding is done legally, that neither party is forced into the marriage, and that the officiant does their job correctly. Today, witnesses perform the same role and their presence is still a legal requirement in the UK.

Anyone can be a witness, including members of the wedding party, such as the best man, maid of honour, bridesmaids, ushers, or even the ring bearer, page boy, or flower girl (if they are old enough). The parents of the bride or groom can also be witnesses, as can any other family member. If you are eloping, you may need to ask a stranger to be your witness, such as a member of staff at the wedding venue or someone on the street.

In summary, while children can technically be witnesses at a wedding, they must be old enough to understand the meaning and importance of marriage and the legal ceremony. It is up to the officiant to decide whether a child is suitable to be a witness, and they may prefer the witnesses to be over 18. If you choose a child to be your witness, it is a good idea to have an additional adult witness as well.

Can relatives under 18 be witnesses?

In England and Wales, there is no legal age limit for witnesses at a wedding. However, they must be able to understand the nature of the ceremony and what they are signing. While witnesses do not have to be UK residents, they must be able to speak and understand the language the ceremony is conducted in.

Although there is no legal age limit, some officiants and civil ceremony venues may prefer witnesses to be over 18. If you have someone under 18 in mind to be a witness, it is worth checking with your ceremony venue that they are happy with this. Some register offices and places of worship will ask for an additional witness if one of your witnesses is under 18, or in some cases, under 16.

If you are getting married in Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland, witnesses must be over 16.

Can siblings be witnesses?

Yes, in most countries, including the US, UK, and Canada, siblings can be witnesses at a wedding. In fact, in most places, anyone can be a witness at a wedding, as long as they meet certain criteria. The only rule is that they need to understand what they are witnessing and be able to sign their name. This means that, while witnesses do not have to be residents of the country, they must be able to speak the language the ceremony is being conducted in. They must also be old enough to understand what weddings are and why they are important. While some sources state that witnesses must be over 18, others state that this is not a strict requirement, as long as the officiant judges that the witness is old enough to understand the ceremony.

In Canada, witnesses must be physically present and cannot be present via video. Some provinces have rules around the minimum age of witnesses: in British Columbia, witnesses must be 19 or older, in Alberta, 18 or older, and in Ontario, it is up to the officiant's discretion.

Do relatives need ID to be witnesses?

Relatives do not need ID to be witnesses at a wedding. In fact, there is no need to bring ID to a wedding at all, even for the couple getting married, as long as you have already shown your ID when giving notice. The only exception to this is if you have legally changed your name between giving notice and the day of the ceremony, in which case you will need to bring your change of name deed document.

There are also no restrictions on who can be a witness at a wedding, as long as they are able to understand the language of the ceremony and have the mental capacity to understand the nature of the ceremony. This means that witnesses can be any age, although some officiants prefer them to be over 18. There is also no requirement for witnesses to be UK residents, although they must be able to speak English.

The core role of a wedding witness is to observe the wedding ceremony and sign the paperwork afterwards. Witnesses are legally required to ensure that the wedding is done legally, that neither party is being forced into the marriage, and that the officiant carries out their job correctly.

Frequently asked questions